Airbnb’s testing a ‘kitchen stocking’ service that lets guests place Instacart orders before their stay

Airbnb is rolling out a new initiative in collaboration with Instacart, enabling guests to order groceries directly through the Airbnb app prior to and during their stay. This pilot program, confirmed by an Airbnb spokesperson to TechCrunch, aims to enhance the guest experience in select U.S. markets starting January. The service will be available to certain hosts in cities like Phoenix, Orlando, and Los Angeles. According to Airbnb's support page, hosts who successfully receive and store their guests' grocery orders before check-in will earn a $25 incentive, along with a $100 bonus on their first fulfilled order. Guests will have the option to place grocery orders through Instacart up to three weeks ahead of their arrival. An Instacart spokesperson expressed excitement about this partnership, highlighting how it will allow guests to easily stock their kitchens and settle in right from the start of their stay. This grocery service is part of a broader effort by Airbnb, following the introduction of its 'Services' feature earlier this year, which allows guests to book various experiences, such as massages or chef-prepared meals. This expansion positions Airbnb to compete more directly with other travel platforms like Tripadvisor and Booking.com. CEO Brian Chesky has indicated that the 'Services' initiative could potentially generate over $1 billion in annual revenue for the company.